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Saturday, November 29, 2014

In 1966 it was Walt who invited music giant Louis Armstrong to record an album of Disney songs.
Armstrong had already appeared in a 1962 episode of Walt Disney Wonderful World of Color called Disneyland After Dark (released to DVD on the Walt Disney Treasures collection, Disneyland U.S.A.). He had also worked with Disneyland and Buena Vista Records A&R Director Tutti Camarata. However it came about, Disney Songs the Satchmo Way is pure gold. (I just added the whole album to the Disney Avenue music player. Feel free to click on the playlist above and scroll down to the bottom and have a listen while your reading the rest of this article)...

Friday, November 28, 2014

Thanks to a loyal reader, I’ve fortunately come into some fantastic and rare pictures of EPCOT Center in its formative years. The photos you are about to see are from all years of EPCOT’s construction, dating back to 1979, and just up to a few months before the turnstiles were thrown open to the Vacation Kingdom’s second gate. Continue after the page break and have a look at these amazing pictures...

Last weekend Disney fans had a chance to go back in
time. D23, the official fan club of Disney held an event called Destination D:
Attraction Rewind. This special event was held at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The programming was wonderful, and I think just about all of us present
learned some things we did not know about Disney History. No video or
photography was allowed as presentations were given by the current and past
Disney Imagineers. However we were allowed to take photos of a special exhibit called
Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. The exhibit featured collectibles and
memorabilia from Disney Parks, as well as Disney collectibles from the 1964-65
New York World's Fair. Continue after the page break and have a look...

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The Disney Avenue Podcast returns with a fantastic interview with Walt Disney Imagineering's original “designing woman” Alice Davis. Married to Disney Legend Marc Davis, she enjoyed a fashionable Disney career of her own, designing and dressing animated figures for such beloved Disneyland attractions as it’s a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean. Continue after the page break and enjoy the show...

Monday, November 24, 2014

This week's Motion Monday article features some widescreen vintage Disneyland shots! From Disneyland USA At Radio City Music Hall (1962). It was a special cinerama presentation that included some interactions between Walt Disney and an on-stage Mickey Mouse. Continue after the page break for some truly breathtaking shots...

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Obviously I am obsessed with Walt Disney World – it’s what has driven me to
blog about it on a continual basis. You know something is a passion of
yours when you can’t keep your feelings inside and need to share them with
whomever will listen. I’ve vacationed in my favorite place in the world
over twenty times and each time I leave I want to go back more than the
previous time. It’s a sickness (but in a good way). Having said all
that, I have barely scraped the surface on what this amazing place has to offer.
I like to consider myself a Disney aficionado but that certainly doesn’t mean
I’ve done everything. In fact, what I haven’t done has driven me to
become infatuated with this place. I want to know more and more about it
and I look forward to experiencing something new each time I visit. When
I started to blog I only focused about things I’ve done myself; I felt like I
wanted to share my feelings on what I know I love. But now I think it’s
time for a little self-deprecation and admit to things I haven’t done (and
probably should’ve done by now!) and share why I can’t wait for my next
opportunity to experience them. I really hope to hear from some of you
who have done what I haven’t in each one of these posts! Continue after the page break for more...

Friday, November 21, 2014

…..This is what I remember. On a visit to Disneyland a
couple of years ago, I was hunched over in Town Square on Main Street USA,
trying to adjust my backpack. I was listening to the music, smelling popcorn,
hearing laughter and just becoming immersed in the setting. With my backpack
on, I stood up and faced north, looking directly at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. I
took a deep breath and then I heard something. I heard someone crying, who was
this? I turned to my right and saw a man, about 30 years my senior, crying. He
wasn’t hurt, these were tears of joy. He was also looking at Sleeping Beauty’s
Castle. He said, “There it is…there it is…after all these years of seeing this
on television, I never thought I’d be able to see this….” And with that, he
took numerous pictures and then took off. He wasn’t talking to me in
particular, he was just making a statement to himself. I just shrugged this off
and went about my day. It wasn’t until a year or so later that I revisited this
scene in my head and then my thoughts started to come together about this man’s
statement and how at some point Disneyland will have a big emotional problem.
Read more to learn about this theory, shall you?

Thursday, November 20, 2014

"The World Famous Jungle Cruise" is one of the few Disneyland attractions that has been in operation since Opening Day back on July 17, 1955. It has not changed much and the Skippers continue to deliver their jokes. This cheesy factor is one reason why the ride is much beloved by many fans. Last year was the first year that The Jungle Cruise received a holiday overlay and became, "The Jingle Cruise." Continue after the page break and let's have a look...

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Today, we return to our Disney Documentary Hour segment here on Disney Avenue with a wonderful vintage Disney World film I think you're really going to enjoy. It's called The Magic of Walt Disney World and it's a 1972 short film promoting the Walt Disney World resort. It was originally released to theaters by Buena Vista Distribution on December 20, 1972 alongside the film Snowball Express. An expanded and updated version aired on The Wonderful World of Disney in 1974. Continue after the page break and enjoy The Magic of Walt Disney World...

Friday, November 14, 2014

The Polynesian is currently in the throes of a radical aesthetic change. Refurbishment work began earlier this year to begin the process of removing some of the older features of the resort, with most of the changes centered in the Grand Ceremonial House. By the time the work is complete, the waterfalls that graced the entrance will be woefully gone, replaced by a more open area adorned with Japanese float lamps, and a large statue of the nameless (but popularly called “Tiki Shrug”) tiki deity that has served as the resort’s mascot since 1971. Continue after the break for more...

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Downtown Disney is expected to complete its full transformation into
Disney Springs in 2016, but in the meantime, various parts of it are opening in
phases. Don’t get me wrong, it is still business as usual in many places.
Disney has done an amazing job of somehow keeping it the same busy and bustling
place it has always been. Join us for this edition of Disney Avenue'sA Walk in the Park article as we travel to Downtown Disney and see all the construction taking place...

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Last Thursday, I went to Downtown
Disney to see the premier of Big Hero 6, Disney’s newest animated feature
film. I enjoyed it greatly because it showed Disney still hasn’t lost its spark
yet. Then I realized something: it has been almost 50 years since Walt Disney
passed away. So much has happened. Continue after the page break for some
food for thought...

Monday, November 10, 2014

It's another Motion Monday! Disney Imagineers built the dinosaurs you're about to see for the Ford Magic Skyway which was part of the 1964 World’s Fair. They were later reused in the Primeval World diorama at Disneyland...

Friday, November 7, 2014

On this episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast, host Keith Michael Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com team up for another amazing interview with the one and only Rolly Crump! Words may not fully describe this man, but one thing is for certain, he was a true “original,” even among Imagineers as Rolly drew forth genius in others. Continue after the page break for a truly amazing show... you just might hear a "cute story" or two...

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

There’s a pretty funny meme I’ve come across a few
times now that sums up my exact thoughts: A rainy day in Walt Disney World
beats a sunny day at home.This is
absolutely true for the obvious reason: you’re in Walt Disney World!Beyond that though, I’ve actually found even
rain can add to your trip instead of ruining it.No matter what the weather is, it gives you a
unique experience of the parks and resorts.Atmosphere is huge in Walt Disney World, how else can you explain the
instant sense of ease and relaxation once you step foot on property?I know I’m not the only one who could go to
Disney for a week, not ride a single attraction, and still have the time of my
life.Sure, this can speak volumes for
vast amount of things to do, but I think it also shows that NOTHING needs to be
done to enjoy yourself.A walk down Main
Street USA, a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, or a seat in the France Pavilion
are things we all dream of doing when we aren’t visiting.Due to this amazing atmosphere, it can absorb
a seemingly bad weather day.Not only
can it allow you to still enjoy your trip, but it also gives you an entire new
experience in the parks and surrounding resorts. Continue after the page break
and see why a rainy day at WDW is beats a sunny day at home…